Category: Politics

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How Much Was Spent Telling Us We Enjoy Sport?

Source: ACT Party

Headline: How Much Was Spent Telling Us We Enjoy Sport?




“Sport Minister Grant Robertson needs to reveal how much taxpayer money was spent on research that shows Kiwis ‘value’ sport”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The only remarkable thing about this report is that a group of bureaucrats and politicians believed they needed to spend money finding out that physical activity has social and health benefits.

“No New Zealander will be surprised to learn any of the following:

  • “…New Zealanders see value in sport and active recreation.”
  • “The opportunity to socialise is central to many people’s decision to participate in physical activity and sport.”
  • “A sense of belonging is important to New Zealanders’ feelings of wellbeing.”
  • “Regular participation in…team sport is associated with improved social skills.”
  • “Sport and physical activity can…improve health outcomes.”

“This report – commissioned by National and now proudly revealed by the Government – is an astonishing waste of New Zealanders’ money.

“It shows why New Zealand needs a strong ACT to act as a voice for taxpayers”, says Mr Seymour.

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ASB Polyfest celebrates 43 years of talent

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: ASB Polyfest celebrates 43 years of talent

The 2018 ASB Polyfest continues to highlight the raw talent of our young people, with this year marking 43 years of successful festivals, Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio says. 
“I had the privilege of introducing the Prime Minister and a number of my parliamentary colleagues on the stages we visited, and we were so impressed of how gifted and talented our young people are in their performances.
The ASB Polyfest has grown in 43 years to become the largest Maori and Pacific students’ cultural festival in the world.  More than 10,000 secondary school students attended, with 242 performing groups entered by 69 schools.
“I see the festival as a symbol for New Zealand that we can celebrate the strength of our youth and their diversity of languages and cultures.  That this diversity of languages & cultures is a strength we need to all fully embrace.
“When our young people display their awesome talents at the ASB Polyfest they reflect for our enjoyment a richness of Maori & Pasifika languages and cultures, a historic heritage, a love for our people and their mana as something we should all value and protect for future generations. 
“I am so proud of our young people and I wish them every success beyond the festival and their performances. Winning at the ASB Polyfest is a fantastic achievement, but learning from your participation and using it as a stepping stone to succeed beyond high school with your goals for further education will enable you to achieve great things.
 “Congratulations to all the winning schools and students. Thank you also to all the schools and teachers who took part and supported your students.  You are truly all excellent ambassadors for your schools and a credit to the success of the ASB Polyfest,” Aupito William Sio said.

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Justice Minister to attend UN Human Rights Council

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Justice Minister to attend UN Human Rights Council

Justice Minister Andrew Little will deliver New Zealand’s statement to the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights council as he leaves for Geneva, Switzerland today.
“Kiwis can be proud of our global reputation as a defender of human rights. We were the first country to allow women to vote, we consistently top international records for low levels of public sector corruption. And the historic Treaty of Waitangi settlement process is about confronting our past so we can walk forward together.
“We can do better. The Labour-led government is resetting the human rights agenda by committing to tackling child poverty, making tertiary education accessible again through fees-free, confronting climate change and energy poverty, funding and supporting the family re-unification scheme for refugees, speaking up for the elimination of nuclear weapons, and fixing the national housing crisis that has robbed families of their right to shelter. 
“While in Europe I will present New Zealand’s report to the United Nation’s committee on International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and visit the successful Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. The Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement commits to establishing a Criminal Cases Review Commission in New Zealand so manifest injustices like that suffered by Teina Pora are righted.
“I will also meet justice-sector Ministerial counterparts in the Netherlands and visit a Dutch prison. In recent years the Netherlands has been so successful in reducing crime that they are closing prisons. In New Zealand the previous National government left a legacy of rising violent crime, an inhumane approach to sufferers of mental illnesses, and a prison crisis which we have plans to fix,” says Andrew Little.

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Statement on nerve agent attack in UK

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Statement on nerve agent attack in UK

New Zealand supports the joint statement made by the leaders of the UK, US, Germany and France on the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, say Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters.
“Outrage at the brazen and callous use of chemical weapons in a UK town is fully justified. This attack left three people seriously injured, including a police officer who assisted at the scene, and potentially threatened many more,” said Jacinda Ardern.
“This incident is a serious affront to accepted global rules and norms. The use of chemical weapons in any circumstances is totally repugnant, and New Zealand is deeply disturbed at any use of chemical substances banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention.
“New Zealand fully supports the sovereign right of the UK to take the action it considers appropriate in response to this violation of international law on its territory. We stand in solidarity with the UK alongside its other partners.
“Despite the further details that have emerged since the NZ government statement earlier this week, and despite the international outcry, the Russian reaction has been cynical, sarcastic and inadequate.
“There is no plausible alternative explanation hitherto, that this came from anywhere other than Russia, and no doubt whatsoever that Russia has serious questions to answer,” said Jacinda Ardern.
 

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Education links with Singapore strengthened

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Education links with Singapore strengthened

Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Singapore’s Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng signed an Education Cooperation Arrangement in Singapore today.
New Zealand and Singapore have a long-standing education relationship. It dates right back to the Colombo Plan introduced in the 1950s which saw many Singaporeans study in New Zealand. 
Today, there is a healthy exchange of New Zealanders and Singaporeans studying and teaching at each other’s institutions.
“This Arrangement solidifies our modern education relationship, and will pave the way for closer collaboration between our education ministries on shared policy priorities and interests,” Chris Hipkins says. 
“We look forward to working with Singaporean counterparts to promote greater exchanges of students and teachers, relationships between our schools and institutions, and to exchange ideas for best practice in areas such as digital learning.
Mr Hipkins says that education continues to be an important avenue to increase people-to-people connections between the two countries – a prime objective of the Enhanced Partnership currently under negotiation between Singapore and New Zealand.
Mr Hipkins’ programme in Singapore includes meetings with his two Ministerial counterparts, Schools Minister Ng Chee Meng and Higher Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, as well as Singapore’s National Institute of Education and SkillsFuture Singapore Agency.

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Further support for Papua New Guinea earthquake

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Further support for Papua New Guinea earthquake

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced a further $3 million package of support following the 26 February earthquake in Papua New Guinea.
“The full extent of this disaster is only becoming clear now nearly three weeks later; there has been extensive damage to water and food sources, transport infrastructure and significant loss of life,” Mr Peters said.
New Zealand has been working with the Government of Papua New Guinea, Australia and other donors to provide humanitarian relief, transporting relief supplies from New Zealand to Papua New Guinea and from Port Moresby into the Highlands.
This latest funding will be used to meet ongoing needs on the ground and includes up to $1.5 million for New Zealand NGOs with local partners to deliver ongoing emergency relief and early recovery activities in the Highlands.
“The Highlands region of Papua New Guinea is a challenging environment and the response and subsequent recovery will take time. This additional support reflects this,” Mr Peters said.
This funding is in addition to an initial package of $500,000 and the deployment of a New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules carrying emergency supplies to Papua New Guinea.
ENDS

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Shameless Shane Jones pimps his ride

Source: National Party – Headline: Shameless Shane Jones pimps his ride

Shameless Shane Jones is not just rolling out the pork for Northland, but focusing that pork in his own close neighbourhood to help him get around, National Party Regional Development Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says.

“Today’s announcement that there will be a Government subsidy for the Kerikeri airport expansion just over the fence from Shane Jones house follows the $9 million announcement of the Waipapa roundabout which is just up the road from the same house,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“And once again, no criteria, no process by which the money is assessed, just a Minister writing out taxpayer cheques when he feels like it.

“The Kerikeri airport upgrade was listed in the previous Government’s regional action plan for Northland – but it was clear it was the responsibility of the airport owner, Far North Holdings.

“In this country airports pay for their upgrades out of their own pockets. Why is Kerikeri airport different, beyond it being the airport Shane Jones uses?

“It’s the same with the Waipapa roundabout project. Why was that chosen to be able to dip into Shane’s fund over the myriads of other roading projects around the country?

“Is there a plan now for all airport expansions to be subsidized, or all roundabouts? How do airport companies and councils apply? What are the criteria?

“This announcement comes hard on the heels of the news that Defence Minister Ron Mark was using the Air Force as his private taxi service, and the decision to use an Air Force Hercules to take eight Ministers to the Chatham Islands to open the new wharf.

“This behaviour is quite shameless,” Mr Goldsmith says. “It would be laughable if it wasn’t about the serious use of taxpayers’ money.

“The Prime Minister needs to enforce the rules around the use of public money and put some proper disciplines around the allocation of money from the Provincial Growth Fund.

“If she doesn’t, her Ministers will think they have an ongoing right to put money into whatever takes their fancy and take hardworking New Zealanders for a ride.

“The National led Government was very focused on a comprehensive action plan to grow Northland. We just took the view that Northland was bigger than an area within a 5 kilometre radius of Shane Jones’ place.”

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Government breaching Bill of Rights

Source: National Party – Headline: Government breaching Bill of Rights

The Government must reconsider amendments to the Electoral Act enabling party leaders to dismiss MPs from Parliament following today’s damning submission from leading political and legal academics, National’s Electoral Law Spokesperson Nick Smith says.

“This chorus of condemnation from such a large group of political and legal academics shows what a dog this Bill is. It is unprecedented for so many experts to come out so united against a Government electoral law change.

“These 19 academics, from five universities including seven professors, conclude that this Bill breaches the Bill of Rights.

“Their evidence is unequivocal that these electoral law changes are flawed, will harm our democracy and will give party leaders too much power. It rightly argues that voters, and voters alone, must reserve the right to hire and fire MPs through the ballot box.

“The Government would be wise to withdraw this Bill in the wake of such damning criticism. It is trying to fix a problem from 20 years ago when MMP was introduced and 25 MPs switched parties, but which has been resolved by voters ejecting the opportunists and re-electing those who did so on justifiable grounds.

“The Bill makes the flawed assumption that all MPs who fall out with their party are unprincipled and lack integrity. It undermines core Kiwi values of freedom of expression and tolerance of dissent.

“Governments must exercise restraint in electoral law changes and the convention has developed that significant changes require a supermajority. This Bill sets an awful and dangerous precedent where a party with only seven per cent support has used its leverage in government formation to force permanent changes to electoral law that undermine democracy.

“This is a crude power grab by Winston Peters to give him absolute power over his MPs in this fragile government, but which dangerously converts New Zealand into what the Inter Parliamentary Union calls a party dictatorship.

“Fundamentally this Bill is an attack on basic democratic values and centuries-old freedom of speech in our Parliament. National will oppose the Bill at every step and with every tool available.”

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New website makes it easier for seasonal workers and employers

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: New website makes it easier for seasonal workers and employers

Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Employment Willie Jackson have today officially launched the Work The Seasons website in Pukekohe making it easier for seasonal workers to find the job they need and for employers to find the right person.
 “Seasonal work can be a good option for many people looking to get back into work and for some could provide the type of work life and meaningful employment they are seeking,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
 “It’s been hard for people in seasonal work to plan their employment and gain the skills they need for the next job. The Work the Seasons website puts seasonal workers and employers in touch with each other in one place.
“Workers can see what work is coming up, and when and where that work is, across New Zealand. In the month since the website went live, 225 jobseekers have registered for work.
 “The Government is committed to providing seasonal workers with better training as well as work opportunities. One thousand training places have been purchased for job seekers that can be accessed through the website.
 “The Work The Seasons website has been a real partnership between the Government and business with input from seasonal industry associations from the horticulture, viticulture, hospitality, tourism, seafood and meat processing sectors,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
 Minister of Employment Willie Jackson said that the Work the Seasons website helps address key employment issues for job seekers and employers.
 “We need to address skills and labour shortages and make opportunities like these more visible so we can support the type of labour market booms we have had recently in the Hawke’s Bay, and attract and retain New Zealanders.
“Anyone aged over 15 years and who is eligible to work in New Zealand (citizen, permanent resident or holder of a valid, current work visa) can register as a job seeker on the Working The Seasons website,” Willie Jackson said.
“Work the Seasons is supported by 13,500 seasonal employers who can post jobs, manage the recruitment process and offer essential skills training.
The Work The Seasons website is available at www.worktheseasons.co.nz.
 Media contacts:
For Hon Carmel Sepuloni – Amanda Snow 021 282 0078 
For Hon Willie Jackson – Tu Williams 027 789 9891 

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Why is Hipkins Hiding the Final Charter Schools Report?

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Why is Hipkins Hiding the Final Charter Schools Report?




ACT Leader David Seymour is questioning why Education Minister Chris Hipkins is suppressing the final Martin Jenkins evaluation of charter schools.

“I wonder if Mr Hipkins is not bullying Martin Jenkins into modifying the report to talk down the schools?”, asks Mr Seymour.

In 2014, the Ministry of Education contracted Martin Jenkins to deliver an independent evaluation of the performance of the charter school model. Its reports were to be delivered between 2014 and 2017.

“The first report found the flexibility of the model was enabling charter schools to deliver ‘innovative educational provision for students who have been under-served by the education system.’

“In its second report, Martin Jenkins said charter schools were reaching priority students – those at higher risk of not achieving.

“The final report appears to have been completed, but not released. What does it contain? Why is Chris Hipkins hiding it? Is the Minister having the report altered to suppress glowing reviews about charter schools?

“A usually-reliable source suggests the final, secret report has found the following:

  • Charter schools are engaging disadvantaged kids, including kids that hadn’t even been attending school previously;
  • Attendance at charter schools is extremely high;
  • Charter schools build the self-esteem of students who attend them;
  • Charter schools have been outstandingly successful for Maori, with Maori pass rates in charter schools exceeding the New Zealand average;
  • The schools have used flexibility of funding and management structure to make innovative offerings to students, confirming earlier reports.

“Chris Hipkins can’t hide the report forever. At some point, New Zealanders are going to learn what 1500 students already know: charter schools change lives for the better”, says Mr Seymour.